Page 136 of Saddles

All I can hope is the slick toe of my boot can keep me held on as I try to pull myself up.

Flashes of light burst in the corners of my vision.

Breathe dummy.

Pressing my palms against the wavy steel, I try to find a set of bolts I can use to climb with.

It’s smooth.

The pounding sound is deafening.

My thigh trembles as I try to lift myself against the kernels weighing me down.

Oh, God, no.

With a sudden lurch, my foot slips.

Chapter 44

April

I’m afraid to turn on my phone to check the time again.

How has it only been three minutes from the last time I looked?

There’s a pop sound.

Then another.

My stomach rolls.

Were those gunshots?

Please be Ford behind the trigger, not in front of it.

All I can do is watch the snow slowly accumulate on the windshield. It’s too dark to see anything outside of the truck.

Should I go look?

Don’t be stupid. I’d never find him. He could be anywhere.

The chill begins to grow until I can see my breath inside.

Where the hell is he?

I give in to the cold and pull one of the blankets from behind the seat and drape it over me, pulling my legs up so it covers me completely.

Tucking my head under, I’m submerged into pitch black.

At least I can’t watch the passing of time in the gathering flakes.

It’s been too long.

Something must have gone wrong. The dull ache in my heart grows sharper until I’m crying silently into my knees.

We’ve been through so much, and still managed to find happiness together.

This isn’t fair.

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